Resident Bill of Rights
These rights belong to every resident and can only be modified if they interfere with the well-being of other residents.
Every resident has the right to be treated with courtesy and respect and in a way that fully recognizes the resident’s dignity and individuality. Residents have the right to be protected from all abuse.
Every resident has the right to be properly sheltered, provided with nourishing food, dressing in clothing of their choice, groomed and cared for in a manner consistent with his or her needs.
Every resident has the right to be afforded privacy in treatment and in caring for his or her personal needs.
Every resident has the right to live in a safe and clean environment. Every resident also has the right to keep in his or her room, and display personal possessions, pictures and furnishings in keeping with safety requirements and where space permits.
Every resident has the right to live in as “home-like” an atmosphere as is reasonably possible.
Every resident and health care proxies have the right:
to be informed of his or her medical condition, treatment and proposed course of treatment.
to give or refuse consent to treatment, including medication, in accordance with the law and to be informed of the consequences of giving or refusing consent.
to have the opportunity to participate fully in making any decision and obtaining an independent medical opinion concerning any aspect of his or her care, including any decision concerning his or her admission, discharge or transfer to or from a nursing home, and
to have their health care directive placed on the resident health care record and noted on the resident care plan.
Every resident has the right to receive therapy and assistance toward independence consistent with his or her requirements.
Every resident who is being considered for restraints has the right to be fully informed about the procedures and the consequences of receiving or refusing them.
Every resident has the right to communicate in confidence, to receive visitors of his or her choice and to consult in private with any person without interference. Where both spouses are residents in the same nursing home, they have the right to share a room according to their wishes, if an appropriate room is available.
Every resident has the right to exercise the rights of a citizen and to raise concerns or recommend changes in policies and services on behalf of himself or herself or others to the resident council, nursing home staff, government officials or any other person inside or outside the nursing home, without fear of restraint, interference, coercion, discrimination or reprisal. Residents have the right to be informed of the procedures for initiating all complaints. They also have the right to communicate and meet with their legal representative as often as necessary.
Every resident has a right to pursue social, cultural, religious and other interests to develop his or her potential and to be given reasonable provisions by the nursing home to accommodate these pursuits. Residents have the right to participate or not participate in recreational activities held by the home.
Every resident has the right to be given access to protected areas outside the nursing home in order to enjoy outdoor activity, unless the physical setting makes this impossible.